Fitting



Dec. 9, 1941. L. c. I'QOTTER ErAL FITTING 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1939 e 9, 1941- l.. c. ROTTER ETAL '2,265,655

FITTING Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG..

Patented Bec. 9, 194i Sri FITTKNG souri Application December 9, 1939, Serial N0. 308,400

9 Claims.

This invention relates to ttings, and with regard to certain more specic features, to lubricant-receiving fittings.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a lubricant-receiving tting which is adapted to limit both the amount, and pressure, of a charge of lubricant from a high-pressure source, so as to pre- Vent either overcharging, or blowing out of any seal associated with the compartment which the fitting serves; the provision'of a device of the class described which is dependable and positively operable with little or no special instructions for its use; and the provision of a device of the class described which is operative with the usual couplers and pumps now available for the purpose of application of lubricant under pressure. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated two of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a Vertical section showing one form of the invention in an open position, the parts of an attached coupler being shown mostly in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing only the fitting part in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing fitting parts only in an alternate position; and,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Many lubricant-containing compartments for bearings and the like are provided with accurately fitted, packed, running seals. 1n order that such seals shall maintain their efficiencies, and not be blown out, they should not be subjected to the high internal pressure which may be engendered by applying lubricant to the compartment with ordinary high-pressure grease pumps. The present invention permits the proper low-pressure lubrication of sealed bearing compartments by means of high-pressure lubricating apparatus, without blowing out the seals under the potentially high pressures available.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I a wall which represents a portion of any closed lubricantreceiving compartment of the type above-referred to, that is, one in which there are running parts with running seals between the interior and the exterior which should not be blown out. It will be understood that the invention is applicable to many other types of compartments which receive fluid and which should be protected against the potentially high pressures available in the supply pump.

At numeral 3 is shown in general a so-called button tting, improved as hereinafter described. The name button fitting arises from the fact that suchfittings have a button-like head 5 provided with a groove 7 for cooperative engagement with a coupler which is shown generally at numeral 9. ing means may be used, such as pressure contact heads or the like.

The coupler 9 is on the outlet end of a iiexible conduit I l which is supplied with lubricant under high pressure from a suitable grease pump. For purposes of illustration it will be assumed that there is a grease pump at the other end of the line di which is manually operated by means of an oscillating handle. An automatic pump may of course also be used.

The coupler is provided with grooves i3 for receiving with sliding motion the button head 5. Flanges l5 and a stop Il cooperatewith the groove 7 so that the coupler 9 may be drawn from left to right in Fig. l to make the application shown. A suitable spring-pressed packing I9 assures a proper seal between the coupler 9 and the button head 5 when the coup-ler is attached as shown.

A threaded cap 2l forms an extension from the head 5 and is threaded over a body 23. The lower end of the body 23 is threaded into the lubricant-receiving compartment as shown at numeral 25.

The body 23 is hollow, as indicated at 2l, 29,A

:head 5 the cylinder 4l tapers as at d2 to an Other cooperative engag-A The insert 37 also i inlet Il to form a seat for a ball check-valve 53.

A differential plunger is provided having a lower large piston part 5 which iits the bore 3| and a small piston part il which iits the cylinder 4I. The large piston part l5 has a bore 30 which forms a continuation of the bore 29 and which is larger in diameter than the cylinder 4I or piston fil. The area above the large piston part [i5 communicates with the atmosphere through the passages lig.

The bore has a small extension S2 through the small piston 5l which at the upper end communicates with the cylinder All through a milled slot 5I. The ball check-valve i3 does not seal off the slot 5I, but when pushed up does seal off the inlet lili against entry of dirt when the coupler 9 is uncoupled. A spring 55 serves to push up the differential piston 45, 4l' and thus to close the valve 43 when internal pressure does not do so.

The members d5, li-I may collectively be referred to as a diierential piston operating in a differential cylinder 3l, l I.

Operation is as follows:

The head 9 is attached by placing the flanges I5 in the groove l and drawing the head from left to right until the stop Il prevents further movement (see Fig. 1). Then the pump at the end of the line II is reciprocated whereupon lubricant under pressure flows from the coupler 9 into the opening Mi. The ball check-valve opens and, being carried upon the piston 4l, forces down the piston lil, 1&5, against the action of the return spring 55. High pressure on the top of the small piston part 4l aids the down- Ward movement. The iirst stroke of the pump will then open the valve and push down the piston 45, 4l and start delivery into the compartment I. In passing through port 5I the lubricant is throttled from a higher to a lower pres- 1 sure.

The compartment I has air in it besides lubricant, which will become compressed as lubricant enters, thus building up a back pressure which is applied to the under side of the large piston part 45. As the first pump stroke ceases, the back pressure on the under side of the piston part 5 which is vdistributed over a relatively large area recloses the valve 43. Thus, the valve is reclosed after each pump stroke.

Upon each successive stroke of the pump, a higher pressure is necessary to open the valve 43 than was required on the previous stroke. For example, upon the rst stroke, the only pressure to be overcome is that of the spring 55,

assuming no plus pressure within the compartment I. Then, as strokes multiply, a relatively small pressure within the compartment i is enough to hold shut the valve 43 against a large pump pressure. Hence, the operator quickly reaches a pressure condition with his pump which prevents him from further pumping before the pressure in the compartment I rises too high.

The ratio of the effective pressure-receiving areas below the piston partl5 and above the piston part 4l for balanced pressure conditions may be as desired. For example, 1000 pounds per square inch as against pounds per square inch; or a 20 to 1 ratio may be desired. Therefore, if the maximum pressure to which the operator can operate the pump is 1000 pounds per square inch, his pumping activities will be stopped by a 50 pound pressure in the compartment I rather than by a 1000 pounds per square inch pressure of which the pump is capable. That is to say, the valve 43 is held shut at a pressure Within the compartment which is much less than the pressure exerted by the pump. As each stroke of the pump is negotiated, the pressure required to force open the Valve 43 becomes higher by steps which are twenty times as great as the corresponding pressure steps within the compartment I. With said 20 to 1 ratio, for example, the rst stroke of the pump may induce 25 pounds per square inch in the compartment I. This requires 500 pounds per square inch to open the valve 43 upon the next stroke. Since a man is capable of operating a pump of this class at 500 pounds per square inch, another stroke is thus made available and he may increase the pressure, Within the -compartment I, to 50 pounds per square inch. Upon the next stroke this will require 1000 pounds per square inch in order to open the valve 43, and with the ordinary pump, this requires about all of the manual pressure which an operator can exert. In any event, if he can exert more pressure, the amount of each added pressure increment is twenty times that required for the next increment of pressure in the compartment I. Thus, he soon reaches his maximum capacity for raising the pressure. The device will be seen to comprise means for making the size of the pressure increment required at the pump a large multiple of the pressure increment obtained in the compartment I. It results not only in limiting the applied pressure but the amount of the lubricant charge.

If an automatic pump is used it will reach its cut-out pressure before that pressure is attained in the compartment I. Thus, it may also be made to stop before blowing out a seal'in compartment I.`

The operator requires no, or at most, few instructions, because he simply pumps until the resistance at the pump becomes so great that he cannot proceed further, after which he disconnects the coupling 9. The parts are then as shown in Fig. 2 wherein the valve il is closed under the effect of the low internal pressure in compartment I. This pressure is maintained, provided the lubricant seals are in good condition, until the lubricant in the bearngs'is used up or escapes. As this occurs, the pressure in the compartment drops, so that when the coupling 0 is next applied a lower pump pressure is tnen suflicient to supply lubricant.

In Figs. 4 6 is shown another form of the invention, in which like numerals designate like parts. In this form the cap part 2| does not integrally carry the button head 5. This head is carried upon a shank 56 which slides through the cap 2l and a packing 57. The packing 5l is held in place by a spring 55 which reacts against a piston head 6I of a member 63 which is threaded into the shank 56. Thus, the parts 56, 53 and 6I move together, being normally pressed downward by means of the spring 59.

The piston head Si has an extension 65 through an opening 61 in the body 23. On the other side oi' the opening 5l and on the stem @Zi is a Valve head 65 which seats upwardly in the opening 6l when the assembly of parts 55, 0I moves upward.

The parts 6I are provided with connected passages l?, i I, i9 and 0I which transfer lubricant from the button head 5 to the interior of the body 23. A ball check-valve 'I3 normally is biased by a spring l5 to close off the inlet opening T1. This opening is only closed oi against entry of dirt, a small milled slot l providing for communication of atmospheric pressure between opposite sides of the valve i3.

Operation of this second form is as follows:

The coupler 9 is attached to the button head 5. Pressure is engendered in the line Il which passes out of the coupler 9 through the opening 1l, opened valve 73, through openings il, 19, 8| to a point within the body 23. At the iirst strokes, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 5 permit the passage of lubricant to the opening 6'! around the head BS and to the chamber I. Pressure is throttled down through the opening 'VI and valve '13. As throttled (reduced) pressure builds up in the compartment l the pressure on piston 6l against spring EQ closes valve 69. Further pumping then simply increases pressure upon piston t! which holds shut valve $9 and a pressure at the pump is quickly reached beyond which pump operation ceases.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A lubricant-receiving tting comprising a hollow member providing an interior cylinder, means for attaching said hollow member to a lubricant-receiving compartment, means for attaching a coupling to the hollow member, said hollow member having an opening for receiving lubricant from the coupling, an opening communicating with said lubricant-receiving compartment, a piston in the cylinder, a valve in the passage between the coupler and said lubricantreceiving compartment, said piston being subject to pressure of fluid flowing from the fitting and adapted under said pressure to close said valve, and a portion associated with said piston which is subject to pressure of lubricant entering the fitting.

2. A lubricant-receiving fitting comprising a hollow member having an inlet and an outlet, means for attaching said member to a lubricantreceiving compartment so that the outlet communicates with said compartment, means for attachably receiving a coupler at said inlet, a differential cylinder in the tting connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a differential piston in said differential cylinder having small and large sections, the large section of which is subjected to pressure at the outlet and the small section of which is subjected to pressure at the inlet, the valve seating outwardly in the inlet and being movable to closed position by said piston in response to outlet pressure.

3. A lubricant-receiving iitting comprising a hollow member having an inlet and an outlet, means for attaching said member to a lubricantreceiving compartment so that the outlet communicates with said compartment, means for attachably receiving a coupler at said inlet, a differential cylinder in the fitting connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a differential piston in said differential cylinder having small and large sections, the large section of which is subjected to pressure at the outlet and the small section of which is subjected to pressure at the inlet,

the valve seating outwardly in the inlet and being movable to closed position by 'said piston in response to outlet pressure, said piston being hollow and transmitting lubricant from the inlet to the outlet.

4. A lubricant-receiving tting comprising a hollow member having an inlet and an outlet, means for attaching said member to a lubricantreceiving compartment so that the outlet communicates with said compartment, means for attach-ably receiving a coupler at said inlet, a di-fferential cylinder in the tting connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a dierential piston in said differential cylinder having small and large sections, the large section of which is subjected to pressure at the outlet and the small section of which is subjected to pressure at the inlet, the valve seating outwardly in the inlet and being movable to closed position by said piston in response to outlet pressure, said piston being hollow and transmitting lubricant from the inlet to the outlet, said hollow piston functioning as a pressure-reducing throttle.

5. A lubricant-receiving fitting comprising a hollow member having an inlet and an outlet, means for attaching said member to a lubricantreceiving compartment so that the outlet com- |municates with said compartment, means for attachably receiving a coupler at said inlet, a differential cylinder in the tting connecting the inlet and the outlet, a differential piston in said diierential cylinder having a small and a large portion, the large portion of which is subjected to pressure at the outlet and the small portion oflwhich is subjected to pressure at the inlet, a valve seating outwardly in the inlet and being movable to closed position by said piston, and spring means normally biasing said differential piston to force the valve toward closed position.

6. A lubricant-receiving fitting comprising a hollow member having a passage therethrough constituting an inlet and an outlet, said passage also including a relatively large cylinder adjacent the outlet and a relatively small cylinder adjacent the inlet, diierential piston means having a relatively large portion in said large cylinder and a relatively small portion in said small cylinder, and an outwardly closing check valve in the inlet operable to close by movement of the piston away from the outlet, said piston being hollow and transmitting lubricant from the inlet to the outlet, ow of lubricant through the piston being throttled thereby to reduce pressure whereby a relatively small pressure on the large area of the piston at the outlet is adapted to cause closing of the valve against a relatively larger pressure upon the small part of the piston from the inlet.

'7. A lubricant-receiving tting comprising a hollow member having an outlet, means for attaching said member to a lubricant-receiving compartment, a piston slidable in said hollow member, said piston having a portion extending outwardly from the hollow member, means on said outward portion for receiving a coupler, a cut-ofi" valve operable by said movable piston member, said piston member being hollow and having an inlet and a communication therefrom to the interior of said hollow member, a check valve at the inlet, the effective area of said piston exposed to pressure being greater than the area which is exposed to pressure of said cut-off valve when closed whereby a relatively low pressure in said interior serves to cause said piston to Aclose said cut-off valve, and means for biasing the piston toward a position to open said cut-01T valve.

8. A lubricant-receiving tting comprising a hollow member having an outlet, means for attaching said member to a lubricant-receiving compartment, a piston member slidable in said hollow member, said piston having a portion eX- tending outwardly from the hollow member, means on said outward portion for receiving a coupler, `a cut-o valve operable by said movable piston member, said piston member being hollow and having an inlet and communication therefrom to the interior of said hollow member, a check valve in the piston member at the inlet, the effective area of said piston exposed to pressure being greater than the area which is exposed to pressure of said cut-01T valve when closed whereby a relatively low pressure in said interior serves to cause said piston to close said cut-OEE valve, and spring means for biasing the piston toward a position to open said cut-01T valve.

9. A lubricant-receiving fitting comprising a hollow member providing an interior cylinder having an opening communicating with a lubricant-receiving compartment, means for attaching said hollow member to said lubricantreceiving compartment, .means for attaching a coupling, said attaching means having an opening therethrough communicating with the cylinder, a hollow piston in the cylinder, a valve controlling flow through the piston and cylinder and movable in response to uid pressure entering from the coupling, means associated with said piston supporting and moving the valve to open or close in direct proportion to piston movement, said piston having a face subject to pressure of uid owing out of the tting, the piston being movable under said last-named pressure to close said valve, the piston being hollow and forming a conduit for lubricant.

LUTWIN C. ROT'IER. VICTOR G. KLEIN. 

